Process for producing sheet metal



Dec. 29, 1925. 1,567,079

J. PORZEL PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SHEET METAL Filed Oct. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

Dec. 29, 1925. 1,567,079

J. PORZEL PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SHEET METAL Filed Oct. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhuenfor W Li \{A i T flrrarney Patented-Dec. 29 i 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH 90m, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SHEET METAL.

Applicationflcd October 28, 1923. Serial No. 671,023.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH PORZEL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the-city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Process-for Producing Sheet Metal, of which the following ticular to a method of producing a strip or sheet of metal by means of electrodcposition.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide a process for producing a continuous stri or sheet of metal by means of electrodeposition, in which the deposited metal shall itself form the cathode, and in which the metal forming the cathode shall be gradually deposited upon a moving surface, and be continuously stripped from such surface, and continue as a cathode until the desired thickness of metal is secured.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a number of forms of apparatus for carrying out my process. In these drawin s:

ing. 1 is a plan View of the preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the process.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, taken on line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is aplan view of a modified form of apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a similar View of a form of apparatus whereby a number of sheets or strips of metal may be made.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 5 represents the bath or tank, which contains a suitable electrolyte for the metal, which it is desired to produce. Arranged in one end of the tank is a drum 6, having an annular or circularly arranged deposit-surface 7. This drum is mounted preferably upon a vertically arranged shaft 8, held in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by an arm 9, carried by the bath, whereby the depositing surface as well as the cathode formed thereon will be moved horizontally in a vertical plane.

Since the sheet, which it is desired to form, provides the cathode during the process of electrodeposition, it is only necessary, in my invention, therefore, that an anode be provided. The anode 10 is preferably extended along the side 11 of the bath.

12 represents the cathode, which is origihated and initially formed uponthc depositsurface 7 of the drum 6 as the same rotates. The cathode increases in thickness as the drum rotates, being stripped from the same at a point 13, and continues horizontally in a vertical plane through the electrolyte bath as a cathode, passing therefrom through a suitable packing gland 14. A pair of rolls 15 are preferably provided, one on each side of the finished cathode 12 for drawing the cathode out of the bath. The pair of rolls 15 are also connected to one side of the source of electric energy represented diagrammatically at 16, and thus make electric contact with the cathode. The other terminal of the source of electric supply is suitably connected with the anode 10. The anode may be disposed on both sides of that part of the cathode which lies between the drum 6 and the packing gland 14, if so desired, so that there will be an eleetrodeposition upon both sides of the cathode as it is traveling from the point 13 where it leaves the drum to the packing gland 14.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the cathode starts to form on the circular deposit-surface 7 of the drum 6 at the point 13, as the drum is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows, and that the deposit gradually increases in thickness as it continues around the drum to the point 13, where it is being unwound from the drum. It will be clear that as the cathode passes the point 13 on the drum, it will continue as a cathode and will be increased in thickness, due to the continuous metallic elect-rodeposition, until it reaches the packing gland 14,.where it leaves the bath. While the cathode is continuously unwinding itself at the point 13, it is initially forming on the surface of the drum 6, which is being continuously uncovered by such unwinding action, and from the point of its initial formation, the cathode increases in thickness as any one point thereof continues around the drum, and until it has passed out of the bath through the packing gland 14.

In the form of invention shown in Fig. 3, the bath 20 is provided with a number of idler rolls 21, suitably arranged, whereb it is possible to make an apparatus whici is more compact than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form of the invention, it will be seen that as the cathode 12 leaves the drum 6, it passes back and forth across sired number of times. Suitable anodes 22 are provided between the assages of the cathode, as well as the circularly-shaped anode 10, arranged about the drum 6.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4. is designed for the production of a number of sheets of metal at the same time. In this form of the invention, a tank 5 is provided, whichhas a suitable packing gland 14, like the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A' air of feed and contact rolls are provi ed for drawing the cathode out of the bath 5. Thecathode 12 is continued through a bath 26, having a packing gland 27 at each end thereof. Suitable anodes 28 are provided in this bath 26. Since the electrodeposition upon the cathode 12 was stopped at its passage through the packing gland 14:, a new separable cathode 29 will be formed on each side of the cathode 12, originally formed'in the bath as the electro deposition continues in the tank 26. As the cathodes 12 and 29 pass through the packing gland 27 of the bath 26, they are passed through a pair of contact and feed rolls 30,

after which they are passed through another packing gland 31 and into another bath 32. This bath is provided with a packing gland 33 at its outgoing end and with suitable anodes 34. As the cathodes 12 and 29 pass into and through the bath '32, a new separable cathode 35 will be formed on the outer surface of each cathode 29. Since the deposition on each cathode is interrupted as it passes from one tank to another, the new deposit will be readily separable. The cathodes 12, 29, and 35 will then pass out of the packing gland 33 of the bath 32 and between a pair of contact and feed rolls 36. The cathodes arc'then separated, preferably, by being run between two pairs 'of pressure rolls 37 and 38. The cathodes 35 are first separated from the cathodes 29 by means of the rolls 37, and the cathodes 29 are next separated from the cathode 12 by means of the rolls 38. The cathodes are now ready for use and may, if desired, be wound upon suitable reels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A continuous electrolytic process of forming a metallic sheet cathode compr1s-'" the cathode on zontal dlrection through the electrolyte bath after it has left the moving surface the electrodeposit" continue.

3. continuous electrolytic process of forming metallic sheet cathodes comprising the initial formation of a single'cathode on a horlzontally moving,'vertically disposed surface In a winding direction, then parting such cathode from the moving surface in an unwinding direction. without interrupting the electrodeposition, and then forming a plurality of sheet cathodes upon the cathode initially formed by moving the initially whereb on upon.the cathode wi l formedv cathode horizontally in a vertical plane.

4. A continuous electrolytic process of forming sheet cathodes comprising the in-- itial formation of a.- single sheet cathode on a horizontally moving, vertically disposed surface in a winding d1rection, thenparting such cathode from the moving surface in an unwinding direction without .interrupt- 7 ing the electrodeposition, then interrupting the deposition, and then continuing the deposition upon the initially formed cathode. as it is moved horizontally in a vertical plane, whereby a plurality of sheet cathodes will be formed upon the surface of the cathode initially formed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JOSEPH Poaznn 

